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Canada, Ukraine and Norway to co-host international conference on returning Ukrainian children, detained civilians and prisoners of war

September 12, 2026 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada, together with Ukraine and Norway, will co-host Pathways to Peace: Second International Conference on Returning Ukrainian Children, Detained Civilians, and Prisoners of War in Toronto, Ontario, on September 28 and 29, 2026.

Canada, Ukraine and Norway are convening the conference to strengthen international support for efforts to bring people home, protect those who remain under Russian control and ensure that those who return can access rehabilitation and reintegration services.

The conference will bring together foreign ministers and senior representatives from participating countries as well as participants from international organizations to address some of the most urgent human consequences of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine: the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children, the unlawful detention of civilians, and the protection and return of prisoners of war.

Building on commitments made at the 2024 Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Formula and the resulting Montreal Pledge, participants will assess progress to date, identify remaining gaps and consider practical measures to turn political commitments into tangible outcomes that are guided by international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

Discussions will focus on three priority areas:

·       Supporting efforts to bring Ukrainian children, detained civilians and prisoners of war home, including by strengthening tracing, information sharing, coordination and pathways for return

·       Strengthening the protection of affected individuals while they remain under Russian control, including through humanitarian access, family contact and reliable information sharing on their status and whereabouts

·       Supporting Ukraine’s efforts to provide rehabilitation and reintegration following an individual’s return while advancing accountability and access to justice for violations of international law

The conference will feature ministerial plenary sessions, focused thematic discussions and expert-level exchanges designed to advance practical areas for cooperation among partners and international organizations. 

Quick facts

  • Ukrainian authorities have confirmed 20,651 records of possible unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children by Russia, with 2,573 children returned to Ukraine from deportation, forcible transfer and temporary occupation.
  •  As of June 2026, Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights had confirmed 1,878 civilians unlawfully detained by Russia, while noting that the actual number may be significantly higher. Some civil society organizations estimate it could be as high as 20,000.
  • The Government of Ukraine does not disclose the exact number of Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia. As of August 2026, 9,529 Ukrainian military personnel and civilians had been returned from Russian captivity.
  • Canada, Ukraine and Norway co-chair the Kyiv-based Working Group on the Human Dimension, which supports international coordination on advocating for deported Ukrainian children, unlawfully detained civilians and prisoners of war.
  •  Canada is co-chair, together with Ukraine, of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which was launched in Kyiv on February 2, 2024.The coalition currently includes 51 members, including states and international organizations. 
  • Canada has consistently called for the immediate return of Ukrainian children who have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by Russia and for the release of unlawfully detained civilians. Canada also continues to support efforts to protect and return prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law.
  • Canada continues to support efforts to document violations of international law, strengthen accountability mechanisms and assist in Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. 
  • Since the start of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable full-scale invasion, Canada has committed more than $26 billion in multifaceted support, including and over $750 million for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. [LA1] Canada has also imposed over 3,500 sanctions in response to Russia’s violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty, and recently extended Operation UNIFIER until 2029 to continue the Canadian Armed Forces’ training and support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.